The Jewish pediatrician Berthold Epstein qualified scientifically in Prague where he rose to
become chair and director of the renowned 2nd pediatric hospital at the German University.
Deposed from office in 1938 he and his wife managed to escape into exile to Norway. Imprisoned
after the German occupation they were taken to Auschwitz at the end of 1942 where his wife was
immediately murdered. Mengele learned about the renowned pediatrician and used him for his own
purposes. After liberation he remained active as a doctor in Auschwitz and returned to Prague
with the army in May 1945. Not well re-accepted he was able to resume his clinical activities
only at the end of 1949 when he took over a pediatric department. His life reflects the
eventful history from the time of Danube Monarchy to the Czechoslovak post-war period.
